ALA Booklist (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2006)

Astronaut Glenn is profiled in a short, succinct book with an abundance of black-and-white photographs. Glenn led a crowded life (fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut, businessman, politician, and then astronaut again when he was in his seventies), and the slim volume doesn't do justice to all his accomplishments. Still, exciting and crucial events, such as the Mercury spacecraft's nerve-wracking descent into the atmosphere after part of its heat shield was damaged, are fully recounted. Photographs and a few diagrams and drawings are set on well-designed spreads, with the exception of a few pages in which a photo is positioned on top of a less-clear background photograph. Overall, however, Mitchell offers a readable and effective recounting of the career of a history maker. A chronology and additional source materials, including books, videos, and Web sites, are appended.

Kirkus Reviews

Written with the clearly stated intent of inspiring readers to enter public service, this profile presents Glenn's achievements, both on and off the planet, as the direct results of a lifelong commitment to larger causes. Opening with Glenn's small-town upbringing (amid "a wholesome mixture of patriotism and a strong sense of community"), and closing with his 2004 testimony against the proposed flag-desecration amendment, Mitchell follows his career from pilot to astronaut to politician back to 1998, at the age of 77, astronaut again. Free of any reference to the "Right Stuff," and so focused on the supposed scientific rationale of his return to space that its self-indulgent aspect goes likewise unmentioned, this cannot be characterized as an unbiased portrait. But Glenn's family is present enough here to give the Senator a bit of human dimension, and in the end, he is an authentic American hero, whose exploits require no exaggeration to impress. Illustrated with plenty of large black-and-white photos and punctuated with motivational quotes, this presents a simplified but appealing alternative to the plethora of existing assignment-fodder biographies. (multimedia resource list) (Nonfiction. 10-12)

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-This profile of the pilot turned astronaut turned public servant is filled with personal reflections and details. A childhood encounter with a pilot who sold rides on a biplane and his father's own fascination with aviation set in motion a lifelong love of planes. Glenn's career in the military, piloting fighter planes in World War II and the Korean War, funneled him directly into test piloting and eventually the space program. It was there that he became the household name that he is today. The book's inviting format draws readers in and maintains the focus, making this a standout among biographies of Glenn, such as Michael D. Cole's John Glenn: Astronaut and Senator (Enslow, 2000). The writing is engaging and intimate, offering up the opportunity to really get to know the subject. The layout is varied without being busy. Small pictures, spreads, and large photos with captions all make this a visually attractive title. Report writers, browsers, and those with a specific interest in astronauts will all find something here to enjoy.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Voice of Youth Advocates

War hero, test pilot, first American in Earth orbit, U.S. Senator, and the oldest person in space-these are all titles that can be applied to John Glenn. Born John Herschel Glenn Jr. in 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio, Glenn is dedicated to public service, and there is now a Glenn Research Center out of Cleveland, Ohio, that is committed to education. In the foreword, Glenn writes, "It is my hope that reading this book will inspire you to want to help others by becoming actively involved in public service." This beautiful photobiography details Glenn's life in public service with a very pro-American outlook; for example, there is only a brief mention of the Challenger explosion that occurred during his term as Senator and no mention of its emotional impact on him as a former astronaut or the implications for the future of the space program. Black-and-white photographs with hues of blue show service metals, flights, crafts, and a beautiful view of a space sunset. This short, easy-to-read biography will be of interest to many young teen readers. Unfortunately its length will make it of little use to many biography assignments that have a higher page number requirement. The pictures, however, will be of great use to those needing illustrations for biographical sketches. It is recommended for younger teens and reluctant teen readers.-Karen Jensen.